canon rumors FORUM

What sort of budget? The Really Right Stuff BH-40 is an excellent mid-sized ballhead, but not cheap, and you'll need an Arca-Swiss type plate for your camera (which is a better clamping system than the Giottos one, anyway).

The Manfrotto 468MG is also a great option, a bit less expensive, I'd pair it with a Wimberley C-12 clamp and a Wimberley P-5 camera plate.

I'm a huge fan of the Markins ballheads, although the RRS BH-40 is a fantastic option as well. If you search on FM, you can usually find Q10s going for less than $250. If you're more budget minded, the Benro B2 or B3 seems to be a reasonable approximation to the Markins, although I don't know how well they'll hold up over time; but I use one of their combination legs (the C4770t) and it's been absolutely fantastic so I don't doubt their ball heads will be any worse. Then the other issue is that you'll need to start investing in QR plates as well. When I switched over to the arca-swiss system I ended up spending more on plates than I did on the ball head just because of how many I needed to buy.

Load capacity ratings aren't really useful to compare between manufacturers, only within a manufacturer's line. I've got a RRS TQC-14 tripod that is 'rated' to support 25 lbs...I can grab a two of the legs and hang my 185 lb self underneath the tripod with no issues. The Induro CT-214 tripod legs are rated to 26.5 lbs, and when I started to try that trick with a set of them in a shop, it was immediately apparent from the way they bowed in that I needed to stop to avoid 'you break it you buy it'.

I have the Manfrotto (310 I think) Junior Geared Head.It's great for accurate changing of levels or straightening the horizon.It's downsize is it's bloody heavy and big.I was caught by surprise when it arrived as I was expecting junior to be small.Once you get over size and weight it's super.It's steady as a rock.I got of sick of ballheads and trying to get them properly level.Maybe I should have gone for something more expensive like a Swiss Arca Ball Head or Really Right Stuff.

mbpics

What sort of budget? The Really Right Stuff BH-40 is an excellent mid-sized ballhead, but not cheap, and you'll need an Arca-Swiss type plate for your camera (which is a better clamping system than the Giottos one, anyway).

The Manfrotto 468MG is also a great option, a bit less expensive, I'd pair it with a Wimberley C-12 clamp and a Wimberley P-5 camera plate.

Neuro, what do you think of the BH-30?

I recently got an RRS body plate and flat-back clamp for use with my Black Rapid strap and I'm looking for a lightweight yet sturdy head. I have Benro A2190T lightweight aluminum legs that are surprisingly sturdy with the center post removed and bottom leg segment not exended (I don't mind bending down a bit). Weight is a priority and I wouldn't really need it to be able to sustain high winds or anything like that.

The heaviest combo I'd likely mount is my D700 and 24-70, so think 7D/5D3 and 24-70 I for a Canon comparison.

Also do you think the lack of a drag knob on the BH-30 is a big deal compared to the BH-40? It would be nice to save the $100 difference and put it towards a lens, but I haven't had much luck finding info about any drawbacks to the BH-30.

Load capacity ratings aren't really useful to compare between manufacturers, only within a manufacturer's line. I've got a RRS TQC-14 tripod that is 'rated' to support 25 lbs...I can grab a two of the legs and hang my 185 lb self underneath the tripod with no issues. The Induro CT-214 tripod legs are rated to 26.5 lbs, and when I started to try that trick with a set of them in a shop, it was immediately apparent from the way they bowed in that I needed to stop to avoid 'you break it you buy it'.

Just got my versa 3 and have to say it blows my old Benro out of the water. Versa 3+PG-02 FG = ultimate stability for my 400 f/2.8 II.

I have the Manfrotto (310 I think) Junior Geared Head.It's great for accurate changing of levels or straightening the horizon.It's downsize is it's bloody heavy and big.I was caught by surprise when it arrived as I was expecting junior to be small.Once you get over size and weight it's super.It's steady as a rock.I got of sick of ballheads and trying to get them properly level.Maybe I should have gone for something more expensive like a Swiss Arca Ball Head or Really Right Stuff.

+1LOVE my manfrotto gear heads, they're almost all I use.had some ball-heads, they blow. Kept one midsize manfrotto ball head for use with my compact cams.ballheads are ok if you're messing around and need to be fast

The 410 Junior is a nice match to the 055 tripod, very solid, nice big mounting plate.I use the bigger 405 with heavier rigs and bigger 'pods.

A cheaper head a buddy likes is the one with 3 large levers to move the 3 sections and each one is also a twist lock. it's quite precise too, not as small but if you're used to it it's pretty fast and solid. it also has built-in spring counter-balance which can be turned on-off and is occasionally useful.

Also do you think the lack of a drag knob on the BH-30 is a big deal compared to the BH-40? It would be nice to save the $100 difference and put it towards a lens, but I haven't had much luck finding info about any drawbacks to the BH-30.

I have the BH-30 on my TQC-14, and I like it a lot - it's small, light, and strong for its size. I don't find the lack of a drag friction knob to be a big sacrifice, but others might. A friend mentioned that there was a pretty abrupt transition from tight to loose on the BH-30 he borrowed to test out (he settled on the Markins Q3T); my BH-30 doesn't seem that abrupt (it can be set with a bit of drag), but mine is new and the one he tested has seen a couple of years of use, so maybe mine will change? Here's a good read on the subject.

mbpics

I have the BH-30 on my TQC-14, and I like it a lot - it's small, light, and strong for its size. I don't find the lack of a drag friction knob to be a big sacrifice, but others might. A friend mentioned that there was a pretty abrupt transition from tight to loose on the BH-30 he borrowed to test out (he settled on the Markins Q3T); my BH-30 doesn't seem that abrupt (it can be set with a bit of drag), but mine is new and the one he tested has seen a couple of years of use, so maybe mine will change? Here's a good read on the subject.

Thanks! I figured the 30 was a good match for a set of travel legs. It seems to be the best compromise of size, stability, and price in the RRS lineup. I'm not the type to lug around a big hulking tripod (even the manfrotto 055 was far too big and heavy for my tastes) and I can't justify CF legs, so this looks like a good combo for me.